Basement Water

Basement Water Basement water caused by water leakage is one of
the most common problems found in houses. While basement
foundation damage caused by water leakage is not common,
basement water can be a major inconvenience, and often causes
damage to basement flooring and stored items. In addition, odors
caused by mold and mildew can be particularly offensive to some
people and can even be a source of allergic reactions. It has
been documented that at least 98% of all basements will leak at
some point as a house ages and settles.

Basement water leakage is one of the most common defects
identified during an inspection for resale of a home. And can
also be one of the most preventable. Basement water leakage is
very often the result of improperly laid exterior grading, where
the surfaces of a driveway or patio have settled and cracked to
form a conduit for water to seep into your basement. Combined
with a lack of proper gutters and drainage, basement water can
become a major nuisance. But very often, preventing basement
repair is as simple as thinking ahead. If the home that you own
or are considering purchasing has a basement, you need to know
if there has ever been water or dampness in the basement and
where it comes from. If you find basement water, the first step
in curing a basement water problem is to determine the source of
the water. Basically, you can divide potential basement water
sources into three categories: Surface water is a flow of water
whose basic source is primarily water from run-off, rain, snow,
or poor drainage. This type of water problem is generally
restricted to the top four feet of soil.

Ground water is a flow of water produced from high water tables,
springs and rivers, and can be made worse by poor soil. This
type of water problem can extend from the surface and then run
down past the level of the basement floor.

Other water comes from different sources and can originate from
inside or outside of your home, due to condensation, temperature
differences, and plumbing leakage.

To solve your basement water problem, and before you start
basement repairs, think about whether basement water shows up
after only heavy rains, or every time it rains. Is the leakage
usually confined to one specific area, and if so, can you
associate an external source with this area, such as a window
well, or a poorly sloped driveway?

Once you have isolated your basement water problems, then any
basement repair, basement refinishing and basement remodeling
become easier. Basement waterproofing is important, because
basement water and the damage that it can do to your home is
nothing that any home owner wants to suffer from.